The Phenomenon of Unemployment Among Graduates of Higher Engineering and Technical Education in Libya and the Role of the Private Sector in Addressing It

In general, planning is inherently linked to the future—it involves anticipating future trends and influencing them in ways that fulfill desired goals and aspirations. Human nature is instinctively driven to contemplate that unknown and often daunting future. When it comes to educational planning and foresight, the issue becomes even more complex due to the educational process’s interconnection with nearly every aspect of life, especially the social and pedagogical dimensions. Ideally, education and societal development should move in parallel from the earliest stages.

One of the key factors contributing to the worsening problem of unemployment among graduates is the growing gap between higher education outputs and the actual needs of the labor market. In addition to this, a number of other contributing factors—both social and economic—can be identified, some of which are specific to the graduates themselves and their individual upbringing. Nevertheless, the most prominent issue remains the weak linkage between educational policy and national development plans.

Although the problem of unemployment among university graduates and holders of higher qualifications is relatively less severe than among graduates of vocational and technical secondary schools, it is now urgent to seek effective solutions. These may involve reforming the educational system, expanding the economic system, or combining both approaches under carefully crafted plans developed by economists and experts in educational policy.

The complexity of the issue and the critical need for effective solutions are underscored by the wide-ranging negative impacts of graduate unemployment—political, economic, security-related, social, and psychological.

This paper explores the problem in greater depth within the Libyan context. The researcher, drawing from personal perspective and experience, attempts to propose logical entry points for potential solutions and aims to open the door for further scholarly discussion and investigation among specialists.